On Sunday the 4th of September 1955 I arrived at RAF Halton, a bright eyed young man just 15 and half years of age, straight from school with very little idea what was waiting for him. First, being found somewhere to sleep; Block 7, Room 5, in No. 3(A) Wing. Then the kitting out; I was quite small for my age and I think that I was either the second or third youngest in the Entry, which I found out many years later.
The run around the square in PT kit, then into the surgery for 3 jabs and a scratch, all, I am sure, with blunt needles. I remember passing someone on my way in who had just had the injections, he was on his way out and his forearms had blood running from the wounds.
What had I let myself in for?
The first 3 weeks getting pushed and pulled into shape, learning how to keep your kit and yourself correctly clean tidy and presentable. All this and it seemed everyone else older bigger and wiser. Learning how to march, although I had been in the A.T.C. it was never like this. Then the line up on the square in front of the Block to see who was going to do what sport and represent the Squadron. I, being one of the smallest was at the end of the line. Football, Rugby, and all the other well-known sports were well represented by all the other bigger and fitter men than me. When I was reached I was told, Fencing and Equitation. I knew what fencing was but what was Equitation? I decided at first to spend Wednesday afternoons turn and turn about, one week fencing then one week Equitation. I found that the Equitation was basically being a stable boy, mucking out stables and cleaning the tackle for the Officers' children to ride the horses. I felt that this getting me nowhere. On the other hand I took to fencing like a duck to water. I became quite good at it and successful. Later visits to many different places to fence, representing both Halton and its apprentices. Places like Eaton, Harrow, Stow and other schools. We were always made very welcome and always gave a good account of ourselves, much to the surprise of those we were visiting. There were also visits to St. Athan to represent No.1 School of Technical Training and Technical Training Command.
I am still fencing to this day with a local club named 'The Wrekin Sword' - this some 58 years later.
My other great interest is Astronomy. I started the interest when I was 10 years old at the height of the UFO flying saucer period. Some 64 years later the interest is still as strong, the problem however is that the mind is willing but the flesh is getting weaker.
On passing out from Halton I was posted to R.A.F Bruggen then part of 2nd TAF.
This is where I met my wife. We subsequently married in 1961 and have just had our 53rd wedding anniversary. When we married we were at RAF Watton in Norfolk. We moved from Watton to Wyton with 51 Squadron in 1963/4.
From there to RAF Changi and the staging flight (VSF) working on anything that happened to visit the station from the regular Comet 4s and Brits to the new VC10s, B 707s, Globemaster C124s, Sabres from Australia and all sorts from the Americans in Vietnam.
On our return from the Far East we were again posted to Watton. I was attempting to become aircrew at this time but was not accepted because I was considered, at 27, to be too old.
Due to this and being a Sgt/Senior Tech I felt that we needed more secure and stable schooling for our 3 children, all boys. We decided that at the end of my 12 years we would come out of the RAF and become civilians. This was a real mind shaking thing; the average civilian family does not think like a regular RAF one.
I was very lucky in that I picked a good Company to work for. The selection procedure was very prolonged (three weeks) and it was not until the last day did you know that you would be offered a position. The Company was the Michelin Tyre Company at Stoke on Trent. This required us to move across the country to market Drayton in Shropshire. When we moved into our bungalow my wife said "New House, New Baby", so our 4th child came along - another boy. I commuted to Stoke every day to work.
I was working there for 15 years and then came the dreaded redundancy. So at the age of 45 I found myself out of work. After some 8 months I found a local job managing a small factory. The salary was poor but it was better than nothing and then came another job - Quality Assurance Manager at a brickworks in Telford. This required that we move to Telford. We welcomed the move as we had been in Market Drayton for some 17 years.
After 9 months, solving many of their problems, getting their acceptance and accreditation to the Ceramics Industrial Certification System they decided that I was no longer required. The dreaded redundancy arrived yet again. This actually worked in my favour as The Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company at Wolverhampton were looking for an Area Managers to work within the factory. My experience and expertise from working at Michelin was just what they (Goodyear) wanted. Only problem was I was 48 and 'TOO OLD!'. I was asked if I would take an extended medical, if I passed I would be offered a position. I passed and worked for them for 14 years. The salary and pension plan was excellent.
I was offered early retirement with redundancy when I was 61. I was the oldest manager on the plant and many changes were going to take place in the next few months. So I grabbed it with both hands. The package they offered was excellent and I really could not turn it down.
After some two months into my retirement our 3rd. son, who was a Director of two factories, one near Berlin, where he lives, and a sister plant in Hungary, asked me if I would help him with a Quality problem at the Hungarian plant. To cut a long story short, my wife and I lived in Hungary for a year and I solved the problems that they had.
I am now 74 years young and we have settled into some sort of routine. I am an Honorary Member of the British Astronomical Association, and Honorary member of the Shropshire Astronomical Society. I visit many local schools, scouts /brownies and other diverse groups, as a STEMNET Ambassador. I am now in my 5th year. It is all voluntary and I enjoy it very much as it keeps me feeling young.
Our eldest son has retired from the Police force and now lives on the edge of the Algarve in Portugal, our second works for McClaren racing in Woking, our third still lives near Berlin some 5 Km from the Tropical Islands Holiday resort and our fourth works in Bridgenorth, he is now 43.
I have built two observatories in our garden. I always seem so busy. My good wife Jean runs a small business from home, selling Prom, Wedding and Bridesmaids' dresses. We have lived here in Telford for nearly 28 years. It is a very green place to live. We are 600 ft up on the top of a hill and the air is always fresh and clean. On a clear day we can see well into Wales. In the evening the lights of Wrexham 38 miles away can be seen.
Should anyone be in the area and would like to visit they would be made most welcome (Brian has our phone number).
Source: The 81st Entry RAF Halton Aircraft Apprentices